Householders are being reminded of doorstep safety after trading standards officers received a complaint about poor quality roofing work.
NORTH East Lincolnshire Council recommends that residents do not deal on their doorstep, because uninvited callers may turn out to be bogus tradesmen wanting to rip you off.
In a recent complaint, an elderly woman was charged £1,500 for some roofing work which was not completed. The trading standards team is now looking into the complaint, providing help and advice to the victim.
The council is particularly keen to urge elderly residents to beware of cold callers, especially in the summer months when they may be approached by opportunist dodgy traders when they see them spending time in their gardens.
To keep yourself safe from doorstep scammers, don’t trade on your doorstep. If you need some work doing on your home or garden, you are strongly advised to obtain three written quotes, which include details of the trader’s name, address and contact details. Using the Home Services Directory www.hsd.org.uk is an easy way of finding vetted, reliable traders.
People who are concerned about rogue traders operating in their area should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or (01472) 324815.
Councillor David Bolton, portfolio holder for community safety and neighbourhoods, said: “Sadly there are people in our society who have no scruples when it comes to ripping people off. These bogus tradesmen want your money, and they often target vulnerable people to obtain their ill-gotten profits. Our advice is to remain vigilant. Don’t think yourself rude for turning away an uninvited caller. It’s your home, and you have the right to choose who does your maintenance work for you.”